Automatic attaching device for self-closing sleeves

Abstract

The present invention enables a self-closing sleeve to be attached to an electric wire automatically. An automatic attaching device (1) for self-closing sleeves comprises: a first jig (7a) and a second jig (7b) that hold an electric wire (11) therebetween; a feed belt (63) that feeds a self-closing sleeve (9) over the outer surfaces of the first jig (7a) and the second jig (7b); and a tape wrapping mechanism. With the self-closing sleeve (9) covering the outer surfaces of the first jig (7a) and the second jig (7b), one end (9b) in the wrapping direction of the self-closing sleeve (9) is positioned in the space between a first extension plate part (72) and a second extension plate part (75) and the other end (9a) is positioned on the outer surface of the first extension plate part (72). Tape (14) drawn from a reel of the tape wrapping mechanism is passed through a slit (S) between the one end (9b) and the other end (9a) of the self-closing sleeve (9) and wrapped around the outer circumference of the self-closing sleeve (9).

Description

Automatic twist tube mounting device

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic twist tube attachment device for attaching a twist tube to an electric wire.

[0002] One example of a wire harness installed in a vehicle is one in which electric wires are covered with a twist tube, and the twist tube is then fixed to the electric wires by wrapping tape around it. The twist tube is an electric wire sheathing material made by wrapping a resin sheet into a tubular shape and forming it. The twist tube is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1.

[0003] The ends of the wires in the wire harness are fitted with connectors that are larger in diameter than the twist tube, and these connectors cannot be passed through the twist tube. Therefore, when attaching the twist tube to the wires, the twist tube is opened against its elastic force in the closing direction, and the wires are inserted between the ends of the twist tube, and then the twist tube is fixed to the wires with tape.

[0004] JP 2009-254076 A

[0005] The twist tubes have been attached to the wires by hand, rather than automatically by machine, which can lead to variations in the finished wire harness due to misalignment of the twist tube attachment position or wrinkles during tape wrapping.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for automatically attaching a twist tube to an electric wire.

[0007] The present invention provides an automatic twist tube installation device comprising a first jig and a second jig that are arranged to be able to move toward and away from each other and that hold electric wires between them in a close proximity; a moving means for moving the first jig and the second jig toward and away from each other; and a transport means for feeding out a twist tube that has been wrapped around it with a resin sheet and formed into a shape, and for covering the outer surfaces of the first jig and the second jig that are in a close proximity, wherein the twist tube that is covered on the outer surfaces of the first jig and the second jig has one end and the other end separated in the winding direction.

[0008] According to the present invention, the twist tube can be automatically attached to the electric wire.

[0009] 1. A diagram showing an automatic twist tube attachment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. A diagram showing the diameter expansion jig and twist tube attachment guide of FIG. 1. A cross-sectional view of the first jig and the second jig of FIG. 2. A diagram showing the first jig and the second jigs of FIG. 2 approaching each other and holding an electric wire therebetween. A cross-sectional view of the first jig and the second jigs of FIG. 4. A diagram showing only the diameter expansion jig of FIG. 4. A diagram showing a state in which a twist tube is placed over the small diameter portion of the diameter expansion jig of FIG. 4. A diagram showing a twist tube. A diagram showing how the rotating roller of FIG. 1 rotates the twist tube along the outer peripheral surface of the diameter expansion jig. A diagram showing the twist tube of FIG. 9 positioned in the open state maintaining portion of the diameter expansion jig. A cross-sectional view of the twist tube and diameter expansion jig of FIG. 10. A diagram showing the twist tube of FIG. 10 placed over the outer surfaces of the first jig and the second jigs. A cross-sectional view of the twist tube, first jig, and second jig of FIG. 12. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the automatic twist tube attachment device of FIG. 1 , showing a state in which the first jig and the second jig are separated. 17 is a diagram showing a state in which the first jig and the second jig of FIG. 14 are approaching each other and the tape winding mechanism has started winding the tape around the electric wire. 18 is a diagram showing a state in which the first jig and the second jigs of FIG. 15 are positioned directly below the tape wound around the electric wire. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which the outer surfaces of the first jig and the second jigs of FIG. 16 are covered with twist tubes. 20 is a diagram showing the tape winding mechanism of FIG. 17 viewed from diagonally above. 21 is a diagram showing the electric wire and twist tube of FIG. 17 viewed from above. 22 is a diagram showing a state in which the tape winding mechanism of FIG. 17 has resumed winding the tape around the electric wire and twist tube. 23 is a diagram showing a state in which the first jig and the second jigs of FIG. 20 have retracted to below the twist tube.

[0010] An "automatic twist tube attaching device" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] The automatic twist tube attaching device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device that automatically attaches a twist tube 9 (see FIG. 8) to an electric wire 11.

[0012] 8(a) and 8(b), twist tube 9 is an electric wire sheathing material in which a resin sheet is wound into a tubular shape and formed. In its natural state, in which no external force is applied, twist tube 9 is in a tubular state in which one end 9b and the other end 9a in the winding direction overlap.

[0013] The automatic twist tube attachment device 1 of this example covers two electric wires 11 with a twist tube 9 having an axial length of about 5 cm and a diameter of about 1 to 2 cm, and then secures the twist tube 9 by wrapping tape around the two electric wires 11. The two electric wires 11 are insulated wires, and connectors 12 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) are attached to both ends. The twist tube 9, electric wires 11, and connectors 12 constitute an automotive wire harness.

[0014] The automatic twist tube attachment device 1 includes a frame 10, a receiving section 3, an expansion jig 2, a means for transporting the twist tube 9, two rotating rollers 4 (rotating means), a sensor 5, a twist tube attachment guide 7, a tape winding mechanism 8, moving means 15, 17, 18, and a control section (not shown) for controlling these components.

[0015] The frame 10 is fitted with a receiving section 3, a diameter expansion jig 2, a conveying means for the twisted tube 9, two rotating rollers 4, a sensor 5, a twisted tube mounting guide 7, etc. The frame 10 is rotatably attached to a moving means 17.

[0016] The moving means 15, 17, and 18 are means for moving the frame 10. The moving means 15 rotates the frame 10 relative to the moving means 17. The moving means 17 moves the frame 10 in the direction of arrow D3 in FIG. 1. The moving means 18 moves the frame 10 in the direction of arrow D2 in FIG. 1 via the moving means 17. In this example, the direction of arrow D2 is the up-down direction, and the direction of arrow D3 is the horizontal direction. In addition, the two electric wires 11 in FIG. 1 are held in a state of extending straight in the direction of arrow D2 by a chuck or the like. That is, the moving means 17 moves the frame 10 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electric wires 11 (horizontal direction) to move the frame 10 toward or away from the electric wires 11. In addition, the moving means 18 moves the frame 10 in the longitudinal direction of the electric wires 11 (up-down direction).

[0017] The receiving section 3 is a section that receives the twisted tube 9 sent from a twisted tube supply means (not shown), and is formed in a cylindrical shape.

[0018] The diameter expansion jig 2 expands the twisted tube 9 from its natural, wound state into an open state in which one end 9b and the other end 9a in the winding direction are spaced apart in the circumferential direction. As shown in Figure 6, the diameter expansion jig 2 has a small diameter portion 21, an expanding diameter portion 22, a large diameter portion 23, and an open state maintaining portion 24.

[0019] The small diameter portion 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than that of the twist tube 9 in its natural state. The expanded diameter portion 22 is continuous with the small diameter portion 21 and is formed in a conical shape with a diameter that gradually increases as it moves away from the small diameter portion 21. The large diameter portion 23 is continuous with the expanded diameter portion 22 and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a circumferential length that is greater than the length from one end 9b to the other end 9a in the winding direction of the twist tube 9 in its unfolded state. The open state maintaining portion 24 is continuous with the large diameter portion 23. The open state maintaining portion 24 is provided with a main body portion 25 having an oval cross section and a rib 26 protruding from a lower surface 25b of the main body portion 25.

[0020] The small diameter portion 21 is located at one longitudinal end of the expansion jig 2, the expansion portion 22 and the large diameter portion 23 are located at the middle longitudinal portion of the expansion jig 2, and the open state maintaining portion 24 is located at the other longitudinal end of the expansion jig 2.

[0021] The diameter expansion jig 2 is positioned so that the small diameter portion 21 is adjacent to the receiving portion 3. Therefore, the twisted tube 9 received by the receiving portion 3 passes through the inside of the receiving portion 3 and is then placed over the small diameter portion 21 of the diameter expansion jig 2 as shown in Figure 7. The twisted tube 9 shown in Figure 7 is placed over the diameter expansion jig 2 in the orientation shown in Figure 8(b), but it can also be placed over the diameter expansion jig 2 in the opposite orientation as shown in Figure 8(a). The orientation is determined by the convenience of the twisted tube supply means and cannot be selected by the automatic twisted tube installation device 1.

[0022] The means for transporting the twisted tube 9 include a push-out means (not shown) and a transport means 6. The push-out means pushes out the rear end of the twisted tube 9 that is placed over the small diameter portion 21 of the diameter expansion jig 2, thereby transporting the twisted tube 9 along the diameter expansion jig 2 to the middle of the open state maintaining section 24.

[0023] 10 to 13, the conveying means 6 further conveys the twisted tube 9, which has been conveyed partway through the open state maintaining section 24, downstream in the conveying direction and covers the outer surfaces of a first jig 7a and a second jig 7b, which will be described later. The first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are disposed in contact with or adjacent to an end surface 25c of the main body 25 (the end surface opposite the large diameter section 23).

[0024] The conveying means 6 in this example includes a drive pulley 61 connected to a drive source, a driven pulley 62, and a feed belt 63 stretched between these pulleys 61 and 62. The conveying means 6 positions the twisted tube 9 between the feed belt 63 and the upper surface 25a of the main body 25, and between the feed belt 63 and the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b, and conveys the twisted tube 9.

[0025] The twist tube 9 is transported by the extrusion means and positioned on the large-diameter portion 23 of the diameter expansion jig 2, thereby expanding the diameter, and a slit S is formed between one end 9b and the other end 9a in the winding direction, as shown in FIG. 9 . Next, the twist tube 9 is rotated along the outer circumferential surface of the large-diameter portion 23 by two rotating rollers 4, which will be described later. Next, the twist tube 9 is transported by the extrusion means and positioned on the open-state maintaining portion 24 of the diameter expansion jig 2, as shown in FIG. 11 , thereby maintaining the open state. That is, the main body 25 is positioned inside the open twist tube 9, and the rib 26 is positioned in the slit S of the twist tube 9, thereby maintaining the open state. The twist tube 9 in this open state is then transported by the transport means 6 and placed over the outer surfaces of the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b, which will be described later.

[0026] The two rotating rollers 4 face the large diameter portion 23 of the diameter expansion jig 2. As shown in Figure 9, the two rotating rollers 4 rotate the twist tube 9, which is positioned in the large diameter portion 23 and in an open state, along the outer circumferential surface of the large diameter portion 23. The two rotating rollers 4 rotate in the direction of arrow R1 shown in Figure 9, and the twist tube 9 is rotated in the direction of arrow R2, which is the opposite direction to R1.

[0027] The sensor 5 is disposed below the large diameter portion 23. The sensor 5 detects the positions of the one end 9b and the other end 9a in the winding direction of the twist tube 9 rotated by the two rotating rollers 4, and transmits a detection signal to the control unit when the one end 9b and the other end 9a are positioned at predetermined positions.

[0028] When the control unit receives a detection signal from the sensor 5, it stops the rotation of the rotating roller 4. In this example, as shown in Figure 9, the rotation of the rotating roller 4 is stopped when the slit S, which is the gap between the one end 9b and the other end 9a in the winding direction, is located directly below the large diameter portion 23. In this state, the twist tube 9 is transported downstream, and the rib 26 of the diameter expansion jig 2 is positioned at the slit S.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the twist tube mounting guide 7 includes a first jig 7a, a second jig 7b, and cylinders 70a and 70b (moving means). The first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are arranged to be movable toward and away from each other in the direction of arrow D1, and hold two electric wires 11 between them in the close position shown in Figures 4 and 5. The cylinders 70a and 70b move the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b toward and away from each other in the direction of arrow D1. In this example, the direction of arrow D1 is horizontal and perpendicular to the directions of arrows D2 and D3 (see Figure 1).

[0030] 5, the first jig 7a has a first opposing plate portion 71 that follows the electric wire 11 and a first extended plate portion 72 that extends from one end of the first opposing plate portion 71 toward the second jig 7b, and is formed with an L-shaped cross section. The second jig 7b has a second opposing plate portion 74 that faces the first opposing plate portion 71 and follows the electric wire 11, and a second extended plate portion 75 that extends from one end of the second opposing plate portion 74 toward the first opposing plate portion 71 and follows the electric wire 11, and is formed with an L-shaped cross section. The first jig 7a and the second jig 7b have approximately the same length as the twist tube 9 in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 11.

[0031] When the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are in a close proximity state, the second extension plate 75 is positioned between the first extension plate 72 and the electric wire 11, and a space exists between the first extension plate 72 and the second extension plate 75. Furthermore, when the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are in a close proximity state, the feed belt 63 and the open state maintaining unit 24 are arranged on the other end side of the first opposing plate 71 and the second opposing plate 74 (the side where the first extension plate 72 and the second extension plate 75 are not provided).

[0032] 12 and 13, the conveying means 6 described above feeds out the twist tube 9 when the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are in close proximity to each other, and covers the outer surfaces of the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b with the twist tube 9. At this time, the upstream portion of the twist tube 9 in the conveying direction (left side in FIG. 12) is positioned in the open state maintaining section 24 and maintained in an open state, and the twist tube 9 is gradually covered by the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b from the downstream portion in the conveying direction (right side in FIG. 12).

[0033] 13, one end 9b of the twist tube 9 in the winding direction is positioned in the space between the first extension plate 72 and the second extension plate 75, and the other end 9a of the twist tube 9 in the winding direction is positioned on the outer surface of the first extension plate 72. In other words, one end 9b and the other end 9a of the twist tube 9 are spaced apart, and the other end 9a is positioned farther from the wire 11 than the one end 9b. In addition, the illustrated example shows a state in which the twist tube 9 is placed on the diameter expansion jig 2 in the orientation shown in FIG. 8(b) and then placed on the first jig 7a and the second jigs 7b. However, even if the twist tube 9 is placed on the diameter expansion jig 2 in the orientation shown in FIG. 8(a), the same shape as that shown in FIG. 13 will be obtained.

[0034] The tape winding mechanism 8 includes a reel 81 around which the tape 14 is wound, a moving means for moving the reel 81 around the electric wires, etc. The tape winding mechanism 8 winds the tape 14 around the outer periphery of the twist tube 9 that is placed over the two electric wires 11, thereby fixing the twist tube 9 to the electric wires 11.

[0035] Next, a series of operations performed by the automatic twist tube attaching device 1 to attach the twist tube 9 to the electric wire 11 will be described.

[0036] First, the twist tube 9 is supplied from the twist tube supply means to the twist tube automatic attachment device 1, and is received by the receiving section 3. At this time, the frame 10 is positioned at a position away from the electric wires 11.

[0037] Next, the moving means 15, 17 move the frame 10 toward the electric wires 11 as shown in Fig. 14. In the state shown in Fig. 14, the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are positioned on either side of the two electric wires 11 in a spaced-apart state. The first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are also positioned below the tape winding mechanism 8.

[0038] Next, the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b move closer to each other. Then, as shown in Figure 15, the tape winding mechanism 8 starts winding tape around the two electric wires 11 before the twist tube 9 is attached. The tape winding mechanism 8 temporarily stops after wrapping the tape 14 around the outer circumference of the two electric wires 11 by about one or two turns.

[0039] Next, the moving means 18 moves the frame 10 toward (upper side of) the tape winding mechanism 8 as shown in Fig. 16. In the state shown in Fig. 16, the tip ends (i.e., upper ends) of the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b are positioned directly below the tape 14 wound around the electric wire 11.

[0040] Next, the conveying means 6 feeds out the twisted tube 9 and places it over the outer surfaces of the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b as shown in Figures 17 to 19. In the state shown in Figures 17 to 19, the end of the twisted tube 9 on the downstream side in the conveying direction (i.e., the upper end) is positioned higher than the tips of the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b and is positioned at the middle in the width direction of the tape 14 wound around the electric wire 11.

[0041] In this way, by covering the outer surfaces of the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b with the twist tube 9 during tape winding, the tape 14 between the reel 81 and the electric wire 11 that has been pulled out from the reel 81 is positioned between one end 9b and the other end 9a of the twist tube 9 (slit S). That is, the twist tube 9 is fed upward by the conveying means 6 while maintaining the state in which the slit S has been formed between one end 9b and the other end 9a by the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b. Therefore, the twist tube 9 is fed out without getting caught on the tape 14 that is being wound.

[0042] Next, as shown in Figure 20, the tape winding mechanism 8 resumes tape winding. As a result, the tape 14 is wound around the outer periphery of the twist tube 9, which is positioned around the outer periphery of the two electric wires 11. When tape winding around the twist tube 9 begins, the moving means 18 moves the frame 10 downward, as shown in Figure 21. As a result, the first jig 7a and the second jig 7b come out from inside the twist tube 9 and retreat below the twist tube 9.

[0043] Next, the tape winding mechanism 8 moves downward while winding the tape 14 around the outer periphery of the twist tube 9. That is, the tape winding mechanism 8 winds the tape 14 spirally around the outer periphery of the twist tube 9 until the entire twist tube 9 is covered with the tape 14, and then cuts the tape 14. In this way, the installation of the twist tube 9 is completed.

[0044] With the above-described automatic twist tube attachment device 1, although the overlapping direction of the twist tube 9 is not constant when it is supplied to the receiving section 3 (see FIG. 8 ), the diameter expansion jig 2 and the twist tube attachment guide 7 can be used to make the overlapping direction uniform. This allows the process of attaching the twist tube 9 to the electric wire 11 to be automated. Furthermore, by making the overlapping direction of the twist tube 9 uniform, the occurrence of wrinkles during tape wrapping can be prevented. In this way, the automatic twist tube attachment device 1 can position the twist tube 9 with respect to the electric wire 11 with high precision, allowing the twist tube 9 to be neatly wrapped with tape without wrinkles. This minimizes variation in the finished wire harness.

[0045] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention. As long as such modifications still include the configuration of the present invention, they are of course included in the scope of the present invention.

[0046] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Automatic twisted tube installation device 2 Diameter expansion jig 4 Rotating roller (rotating means) 5 Sensor 6 Conveying means 7 Twisted tube installation guide 7a First jig 7b Second jig 8 Tape winding mechanism 9 Twisted tube 11 Electric wire 70a, 70b Cylinder (contacting and separating means)

Claims

1. An automatic twisted tube installation device comprising: a first jig and a second jig that are arranged to be able to move toward and away from each other and that hold electric wires between them in a close proximity; a moving means for moving the first jig and the second jig toward and away from each other; and a transport means for feeding out a twisted tube that has been wrapped around it with a resin sheet and formed into a shape, and placing it over the outer surfaces of the first jig and the second jig that are in a close proximity, wherein the twisted tube that is wrapped over the outer surfaces of the first jig and the second jig has one end and the other end separated in the winding direction.

2. The automatic twist tube attachment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the first jig has a first opposing plate portion that follows the electric wire and a first extended plate portion that extends from one end of the first opposing plate portion towards the second jig; the second jig has a second opposing plate portion that faces the first opposing plate portion and follows the electric wire, and a second extended plate portion that extends from one end of the second opposing plate portion towards the first opposing plate portion and follows the electric wire; and when the first jig and the second jig are in a close proximity to each other, the second extended plate portion is positioned between the first extended plate portion and the electric wire, one end of the twist tube in the winding direction is positioned in the space between the first extended plate portion and the second extended plate portion, and the other end of the twist tube in the winding direction is positioned on the outer surface of the first extended plate portion.

3. The automatic twist tube attachment device according to claim 1, further comprising a tape winding mechanism that winds tape around the outer circumference of the electric wire and the twist tube, wherein the tape winding mechanism starts winding tape around the electric wire before the twist tube is attached, and during the tape winding stage, the tape that has been pulled out from the reel and positioned between the reel and the electric wire is positioned between one end and the other end in the winding direction of the twist tube that is placed over the outer surfaces of the first jig and the second jig.

4. An automatic twisted tube installation device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: an expanding jig that expands the twisted tube from its natural state in which it is wound into a tube shape to an open state in which one end and the other end in the winding direction are spaced apart circumferentially; and a transport means that transports the twisted tube, which is placed in its natural state over one longitudinal end of the expanding jig, along the expanding jig to the other longitudinal end, and the first jig and the second jig are positioned on the other longitudinal end side of the expanding jig.

5. An automatic twisted tube installation device as described in claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a rotating means for rotating the twisted tube, which is placed over the diameter expansion jig and put into the open state, along the outer surface of the diameter expansion jig, and a sensor for detecting the positions of one end and the other end in the winding direction of the twisted tube being rotated by the rotating means, wherein the rotating means stops rotating when the one end and the other end in the winding direction of the twisted tube are positioned at predetermined positions.

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